Shark Tank

My son decided he needed to build a box to house his collection of sea creatures he got at the aquarium.
So we spent a little time in the garage yesterday.
I'm always amazed at how a few pieces of wood, some glue and some nails turn into a couple hours of amazing adventure.

It's a great opportunity to teach a skill, as well as a great opportunity to listen. In a couple of hours I learned so much about my sons friends, his favorite fish, the kids on his baseball team, and what he likes and dislikes about the lunches we pack him everyday'

What a great opportunity- What a fun day'

As always -Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Mid century pallet bench

Well - I finished the bench. I have enough parts made to make another, but I only put one together.
This was a fun project to make. I really didn't have a plan. I just needed to make something, and the scrap wood I had laying around decided that i should make a bench.

Thanks to Edwina for all of the spruce cut offs. I've had them sitting around for a while now, just wondering what to do with them. I used a few pieces I took from a pallet for the seat slats and the back rest.
Surprisingly - the bench is really comfortable. All of the parts are cut at a ten degree angle.

Now - to sit back and enjoy those libations.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Pieces

It's a beautiful day out and I'm itching too make something.
if i don't I get the heebie jeebies.
I don't want to be indoors so I've been rummaging through my scrap wood outside. I have some pieces of spruce construction boards, and I have some pieces taken from a pallet.
I think I might make a quick bench with the pieces.
I'll take a picture of the project when it's done. That's only if I don't get distracted by the sunshine, warm weather, my grill and some libations'
All in a days work.

As always - Thanks for  following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Hold downs

For the past few days I've been working on a jig to help make cutting the bench parts to size easier, quicker, and more exact.
There are many methods but I decided to make a jig that the bench post and legs will fit into, so I can cut the tapers using my table saw.

The jig is made from a 3/4 inch piece of plywood that is 28 inches wide. There are many pieces of one inch plywood attached to it that hold, or nestle, the bench parts in place. Lining them up correctly.

One edge of the jig will ride along the table saw fence and the other will be against the saw blade, cutting off any material hanging over the edge of the plywood jig. I'll turn it around, lining up the other edge to the fence, attach the other leg and make the same cut. Now I'll have two pieces tapered and ready to be attached to the bench stretchers.

I made my own hold down clamps using the off cuts of spruce I had and some small pieces of 1/2 inch ply. I used spray adhesive to attach some bits of leather to the underside. I drilled a hole through the pieces where a 1/4 inch machine bolt fits through. I then sprayed the clamps with lacquer. I also sprayed the plywood jig with a coat of lacquer. It helps keep my instructions and layout lines from wearing off. I scuffed up the leather so it will help grip the wood.

I drilled a few holes in the plywood jig where I inset some threaded insert nuts. This is where the machine bolt fits into. Once my material is set in place I simply screw in the bolt and the spruce hold down clamps tighten to the material, keeping it in place.
Store bought toggle ( hold down clamps ) can cost at least $20 each.

Why spend money when you don't have to. Besides - it's much more rewarding to see your hard work work'

As always - Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Eastlake

My Mom recently purchased a couple of chairs at a yard sale.
She just liked the look of them.  It turns out she has a great eye.  The chairs are from the late 1800's and are made by a very prominent English maker by the name of Charles Eastlake.
They are what is known as Ladies parlor chairs.
Below is a little information of Charles and his style.
Way to go mom''

"The Eastlake furniture style as envisioned by its namesake, Charles Lock Eastlake, came about in response to his dislike of the over-the-top Rococo Revival and Renaissance Revival styles popular during the Victorian era. Eastlake was a trend-setting British architect, author, and lecturer.

As a proponent for "careful craftsmanship," he called for the manufacture of "simple sturdy furniture." His book, Hints on Household Taste, published in England in 1868 and the United States in 1872, expounded on these ideals in line with those of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Although Eastlake furniture is technically considered Victorian, being popular from 1870-1890, it breaks away from the excessive high relief carving, classical elements, and numerous curves of other styles produced during this time frame."

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Break Time

Break time'

I had a little fun in the garage this weekend. I made a bench using some of the pool cues I had.
I picked up the cues at a local thrift store. I've had them sitting around the place for a while. I took a piece of 2' x 12' spruce and softened the corners by cutting them at 45 degrees. I then laid out four holes, 1 1/8" in diameter and drilled them at an angle of 10 degrees, 7/8 " deep. Ten degrees is the usual angle most table and chair legs are angled at.

I made a jig to hold the pool cue legs at 10 degrees so I could cut them on the miter saw at the exact length I wanted. I could've made a jig for the drill press to help me drill the holes into the spruce board at ten degrees but I just used a bevel gauge and eyeballed it. It worked o-Kay. This was all just experimenting and having fun anyway.
I then cut a slot ( kerf ) in the end of each leg. I put glue in the mortises in the board and I glued a wedge into the kerf in the leg.
When I inserted the leg into the mortises the wedge is driven into the leg, splaying it out and locking it into place.

After the glue dried I cut a piece of foam and took some scrap vinyl I had leftover from a previous project and gave the bench a crude upholstery job.
I had fun and it works' What more can you ask for.
I really like my cut off jig I made, it works very well. i think I will make a jig for the drill press so next time I'm more accurate. I was only using a spruce construction grade board, if I was using a piece of walnut or something it would be different.
Anyways - one thing always leads to another. I have some other ideas now for the rest of the pool cues.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative.
Best
Steve

Sand castle

I didn't have to leave the garage to build a sand castle.
The sand ( box ) castle is complete. Well - almost.
The only thing missing is the sand. I had a blast building this project . I can't wait to see my son use it.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Cutting Boards

I've been using a lot of softwood lately in my projects. When I do use hardwood, especially like maple, walnut or cherry, I always save the cut offs and scrap pieces, even the narrowest ones.
I use them to make simple cutting boards. You could laminate a bunch of one inch strips together if you wanted. You can alternate the species of wood in order to create a striking pattern.

You always need extra cutting boards and they make great gifts for Christmas or a housewarming gift. I have a couple of templates that hang on my wall that I made out of 1/4" plywood.
When I collect enough material I make a cutting board.
Glue the pieces together, trace the pattern, cut out the pattern and sand. It's that easy''
You can cut them out in any shape to create some pretty dynamic looking pieces. If you have a boutique or gift shop in your area try to get them to carry them for you. It;s a simple way to make an extra dollar.

As always - Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

The possibilities

I saw this stack of framing material near the barn at Hancock Shaker village. I love the mortise and tenons cut into the boards.
I just wanted to start stacking and piling them up like a kid with tinker toys or Lincoln logs. I need to pay another visit to see the end result.

As always - Thanks for following

Be safe and be creative

Best

Steve

Fuel

I want to give a huge thanks to the good folks at Milwaukee tool for their generous, and much needed donation of a new 18 gauge 'fuel' brad nailer. This is a new product line for Milwaukee. They just introduced them to stores in April
I'm excited to put it to use.
I'm charging the battery and will put it to the test shortly.
I'll give you my review when I'm done.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative.
Best
Steve

Writing desk

In an earlier post I talked about the Shaker lap desk I made and gave to my brother as a retirement gift.
I took a picture of it while we were in Toronto last week.
My Brother reads daily all of Toronto's major newspapers. He uses the desk I gave him to read the papers on.
I finished the desk with a coat of oil and wax. I love how the newsprint has given the pine a funky patina.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative.
Best
Steve

Toronto return

We were in Canada the past few days visiting my family.
My Brother recently retired. He and his wife have bought a new home and will move in it in June.

While visiting him in Toronto I thought I would take some pictures of his kitchen. His kitchen was the first kitchen I had ever done. The cabinets are plywood and the doors and trim are solid oak.
I like how it turned out. I did learn some things along the way- such as where to put the door pulls. The upper cabinet door pulls should be lower. I centered them, they should be at approximately eight inches from the bottom of the door. Oh well- he left them centered and everything still works fine.

I hope the new owners enjoy the kitchen.

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Roadside Attraction

I like whimsy. I appreciate it when people try to add a little sense of humor to their yard for passerby's to see.

I saw this charming bit of woodworking whimsy on a front lawn of a house in the lakeside community of Port Dalhousie, Ontario Canada on Saturday.
The entire stump was about four feet tall. It had a nicely carved door and a tin roof. It made us smile as we walked by, which I think is the intent of the project.
Perfect'

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Sewing chest

Yesterday i applied a thin coat of wax to the chest. I waited a few hours and then buffed it out with a piece of denim cloth.
I reassembled it and showed the final results to my wife.
I guess it was a hit. She instantly claimed it as her new sewing and fabric chest.
A successful project'

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve

Hancock continued

Here are some more images of pieces from our visit to the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA.
No matter what style or aesthetic you're into these pieces have to inspire. So much thought went into their function and they are incredibly well crafted.
The Shakers used a lot of cherry wood in their work as well as pine. The pine pieces were usually painted with milk paint and they cherry would be left to darken naturally.

Enjoy

As always - Thanks for following
Be safe and be creative
Best
Steve